Search results

Elder abuse is the matter of grave concern in recent times in India. Today, older people are facing the abusive behaviour such as maltreatment, mental and physical torture and heedless ignominy from the family and the society. The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of elder abuse in Indian socio-cultural context and also focuses on the causes of elder abuse and abusers.

Mixed method design has been applied in this paper. The study has been conducted from October 2012-January 2013 on a sample of 220 older people living in both rural and urban areas of Lucknow, India. The data have been analysed through descriptive and narrative analysis.

The study finds that the emotional abuse is more common among the older people, which raises the feeling of insecurity, depression and isolation. The study also points out that the respect, honour, status and authority which were enjoyed by the elderly in the traditional society, have gradually started declining. Moreover, the study finds that the family members, do not provide proper food, clothing and medical facilities in rural areas.

Since the sample of older respondents was small and focused on those living in a particular area of one state, the authors cannot generalise from this study to include the great diversity of experience and difference in perceptions among the older people even within a particular state. However, widespread and diverse types of accounts of elder abuse were reported even in these settings, which can help indicate areas for future research and policies.

This is an original paper, which is based on the experiences of older people living in rural-urban areas and discussed the elder abuse in socio-cultural context.

The present exploratory study aimed (1) to explore the traditional dietary habits of local communities, (2) to analyze the shift in traditional eating practices and (3) to examine the changes observed in socio-cultural beliefs system due to climate change.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with purposive sampling of 210 households in the select ten villages of the western Himalayan region. Open-ended interview questionnaires and a close-ended survey on a 5-point Likert scale are used. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 is used for the exploratory factor analysis. Further, Atlas-ti version 8 is also employed for thematic analysis.

The exploratory and thematic analysis illustrated that socio-ecological beliefs are crucial in food choices, but cultural beliefs are also changing due to climate change. Thus, the shift in socio-cultural beliefs can significantly affect the nutritional security of the indigenous societies during climate-induced emergencies in the mountain regions.

Therefore, the findings of the study are significant for a comprehensive understanding of the traditional dietary practice of the indigenous community for an evidence-based inclusive food security and climate change adaptation policy.

The inclusion of cultural practices is evident for ensuring the nutritional security. But, the magnitude of the climate-induced impacts on customary societies is not yet fully understood. Thus, the current study was conducted.

The widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has had a significant effect on various groups and communities of people including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and their owners/managers. The current study aims to analyze recent literature regarding adoption of ICTs by MSMEs. Further, it tries to locate gender within this broader context of diffusion of ICTs among MSMEs.

Using the thematic analysis approach, the research articles pertaining to six leading journals on ICTs, gender and entrepreneurship published during the time period from 2011 to 2019 are reviewed.

The literature selected for the study has been discussed under two primary categories, viz. “adoption of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) for business purposes” and “insights on gender in ICT4D use by MSMEs.”

The context-dependent nature of ICT use can enable future entrepreneurs to assess the scope of specific ICTs in given areas of operation. The gendered nature of ICTs helps to evaluate as well as question the empowerment potential of ICTs. The study emphasizes the need to account for historical specificities and transnational linkages in understanding access, adoption and use of ICT4D by women MSME entrepreneurs.

The study bridges together literature on ICT4D use by MSMEs and the role of gender in ICT-mediated entrepreneurial environments. While unraveling the interplay of power dynamics in such environments, the scope for future research in terms of tapping into the content of information exchanges and exploring the implications of “dark side of internet” for women MSME entrepreneurs is also indicated.

This study aims to propose a fuzzy linear regression (FLR) model to deal with the vagueness or fuzziness of the underlying relationship between silk cocoon and yarn quality.

Shell ratio percentage, defective cocoon percentage and cocoon volume are considered as significant independent variables to predict the quality of silk cocoons. Input and output parameters of the FLR model are considered as non-fuzzy, but the underlying relationship between the variables is assumed to be fuzzy.

The fuzzy regression model shows its superiority against conventional multiple linear regression model for estimation of silk cocoon characteristics. It is inferred that the fuzziness in underlying relationship between the parameters can be handled efficiently by FLR model.

A rigorous experimental work has been carried out on 40 lots of mulberry silk cocoons to generate real-world data set to characterize silk cocoons’ quality in a fuzzy environment.

This paper aims to explore the challenges and benefits arising from the involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the provisioning of primary healthcare in a decentralised health system of India.

A qualitative study design was used in this study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews from 89 respondents selected from nine primary health centres across the district. A thematic analytical framework approach was used to analyse the data.

The research results indicate that there are several challenges resulting from PRIs involvement, including prioritisation of service providers and users, coercive unethical work and lack of communication. However, there are some benefits associated with the involvement of the PRIs in service provisioning, including improved availability and regularity of healthcare providers at the health centres.

The implications of the findings suggest that the PRIs play an important role in healthcare provisioning; however, their involvement is ineffective due to their partial capabilities and approach, which creates a non-conducive environment.

Health issues are among the most important human concerns, and recognising and addressing the grassroot challenges help to locate, and overcome the challenges that hinder the smooth healthcare provisioning process.

National Rural Health Mission has recognised the PRIs as a platform to promote decentralised health planning and for achieving its goals in India. The PRIs are significantly involved in planning, monitoring and provisioning of primary healthcare services at grassroot level. This paper addresses the challenges and benefits that emerged due to their involvement.

Purpose: The purpose of the chapter is to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the social sustainability of tourism in Uttarakhand, which is located in the Himalayan region in the developing country of India. The chapter also throws light on the state's governmental level interventions amidst the pandemic to restore social sustainability in the tourist destinations and debates on how social sustainability can be restored in the region.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The chapter is conceptual in nature and based upon secondary sources.

Findings: The finding highlights how the current pandemic has exacerbated the social sustainability in tourist destinations in several ways and how government steps to restore social sustainability are appreciable in the short term, but much more needs to be done in the long run.

Research Limitations/Implications: As the chapter is based on secondary literature, the study based on primary work is suggested to give a much clearer picture of the prevailing ground reality.

Practical Implications: The chapter highlights the possibilities of bringing new sustainability ideas and initiating well-being programmes for the local community during and after a pandemic that the government can adopt.

Social Implications: The chapter identifies critical social implications in terms of inequities and challenges in restoring social sustainability in tourist places amidst the pandemic.

Originality/Value: This study provides novel insight into the change in social sustainability in tourism amidst the coronavirus pandemic, which has been overlooked in tourism studies.

The purpose of this paper is to provide systematic empirical evidence on the health planning through Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) in India.

A micro-level study was carried out using qualitative study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 105 respondents selected from 42 VHSNC sites. A thematic analytical framework approach was used to analyse the data.

The research results indicate that VHSNCs are playing a significant role in health planning. However, the committee meetings are not organised by the committee members on the regular basis. Most of the VHSNC members do not make village health plans. There are some challenges associated with the functioning of VHSNCs like insufficient resources, lack of people’s interest, insignificant attention and the unfair behaviour of the Panchayati Raj leaders.

The implications of the findings suggest that VHSNCs play a significant role in health planning. However, the leadership is ineffective due to their partial capabilities and approach that generate non-conducive environment. Studies of such nature will be helpful for policy makers in understanding the current situation and micro-level picture of VHSNC and also in analysing it in the existing health system.

VHSNC functions with a broader concern and cover range of social determinants at the village level. This study provides empirical evidence on the VHSNCs as lowest part of the health system.